Parshat Kedoshim - Love Your Fellow Jew

In this week’s parshah (19:18) we are commanded, “V’ahavta l’rei’acha kamocha, you shall love your neighbor like yourself.”

Firstly, why does the Torah stipulate kamocha - to love someone like yourself? Wouldn’t it have been sufficient to say, V’ahavta l’rei’acha - love your neighbor?

Secondly, how can we love someone as we love ourselves; isn't that counter-intuitive? After all, we are wired to fend and protect ourselves, preserve, and look out for our own interests. How could Hashem expect us to love someone just as we love ourselves?

My father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlit"a beautifully resolves both queries. The Kedushas Levi shares that indeed we are not expected to love someone on the same level that we love ourselves as that would be impossible. Rather, Hashem means to love in the same manner one accepts and respects themselves. Despite deficiencies, handicaps, and faults, kamocha, the Almighty expects one to love another putting aside flaws. V’ahavta l'rei'acha, care for another person, kamocha, just as one would care for themselves. Ignoring one's imperfections, they should still love another individual no matter their weaknesses, because when coming to love and welcome a fellow Jew notwithstanding blemishes and afflictions, one yeilds tremendous strength.

A magnificent episode of brotherly love is said of a pair of childhood mates. One of two became a spy. One day the agent was caught and sentenced to death. As the executioner prepared to hang the shy, he begged, “Please let me go back and say goodbye to my family!” Not trusting that he would return, the executioner insisted that he bring forth a replacement thereby guaranteeing he would not escape. Should the spy vanish, the guarantor would instead die.

Of course, when the man asked his old childhood pal to serve in his stead, the friend agreed. When the day for the spy's return finally arrived, the friend from youth failed to show, shocking to many present! The clock moved faster as the designated time for the hanging rapidly approached. Suddenly, surprise filled the room as a carriage zoomed into the marketplace where the execution was set to occur. The spy leaped forth from the carriage, screaming, “Stop I’m back! Don’t slaughter my friend, I’m here!” So, the executioner removed the noose from his friend and slowly lowered it in place on the neck of the spy. The guarantor then cried out, “No, no hang me and let my friend live!” However, the spy persisted that he was destined to die. The king, who had watched the scene unfold, called a halt to the proceedings summonning the two friends. The royal bestowed praise for their devotion to one another and offered the spy a lifesaving pardon on condition they include the king in their circle of friendship. Each of us must try our utmost to love our fellow brothers and sisters. Be optimistic and notice the merits, not the flaws in others.

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